Sponsor: Ashoka Innovators for the Public (nominal)
Project Information
Project duration: Ongoing
Project's area of focus: The provision of entrepreneurial training to rural women to make economic independence a possibility
Project Needs and Beneficiaries
Many rural women in Maharashtra are either uneducated or are pulled from school at a young age. To address this situation, the Business School offers a variety of technical classes at our rural branch offices to enable women to start new businesses or expand existing ones. As such, the business school creates entrepreneurial opportunities for women, allowing them to enter the rural job market and strengthen economically-weak communities through micro and small enterprises.
Activities
We offer classes ranging from tailoring and embroidery to financial literacy and computer skills. Each course aims to enable the women to begin a new business or expand upon an existing one, allowing our students to gain financial independence.
Expected Outcomes
Our School aims to improve the long-run economic status of women and their families through new business opportunities enhanced through entrepreneurial skills. We expect to graduate approximately 200 students in the School's 2nd year of operation.
Project Message
“All my life I have dug wells in the sun to earn my wages. For the first time in my life I am sitting in shelter and making cotton bags and selling them after taking the course in the business school.
- Shaila Mane, A student from the bag making course, Vaduj.
Project Contact
Chetna Sinha,
President
Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank Ltd. Mhaswad Tal. Mann Dist.- Satara Mhaswad, Maharashtra Postal Code 415509
India
+91-02373-270660
Mann Deshi Foundation. Mhaswad Tal. Mann Dist.- Satara MhaswadMaharashtra415509 India
+91-02373-270660 Organization's Homepage
Organization's Mission
The organization seeks to improve the quality of life of women and their families living in the rural areas of Maharashtra. Our primary objective is to empower rural women and fight injustices based on gender, caste and class. Our programs are designed to improve our clients' quality of life by promoting education, health, property rights, leadership and technology.
Organization's Programs
Mann Deshi Foundation (MDF) is a central-registered NGO. Mann Deshi Foundation's mission is to promote the development of poor and vulnerable women and their families in Maharashtra and Karnataka by providing business skills and management training, knowledge on property rights, leadership and personality development, and adoption of new technology.
Organization Statistics
Financial Statistics
Chetna Sinha,
President
Founded in 1996
Employees: 40
Volunteers: 3
Other funding sources: HSBC, Bonita Trust, British Asia Trust, Commonwealth of Learning, Godfrey Phillips Religious Affiliation: None
Personnel Overview
Padma Kuber - Program Director/Coordinator for Business School
Padma has been with Mann Vikas for 2 years. Prior to her work here she was involved with social work and education with NGOs in nearby villages. Later, Padma worked with local self help groups to help them produce higher quality goods. Following that, Padma came to Mann Vikas to use her background to help spearhead efforts to teach women the skills necessary to become financially independent.
